De Bruyne joined the Premier League club in January 2012 and was sent out on loan to Werder Bremen last season.

The 22-year-old has found first-team opportunities hard to come by since Jose Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge, featuring just three times in the league this season.

As a result, the former Genk man has been linked with a permanent transfer in January, and Wilmots is eager to see De Bruyne playing first-team football ahead of next year's World Cup, nominating his former club, Schalke, as a good move.